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MEMOIR 


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JULIUS ERASMUS HILGARD. 


1825-1890. 


BY 


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Reap Berore tHE Natronat AcADEMyY, APRIL, 1893. 


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MEMOIR OF JULIUS ERASMUS HILGARD. 


Julius Erasmus Hilgard was born on January 7, 1825, at Zwei- 
briicken, Rhenish Bavaria, where his father, Theodore Erasmus, 
held for a number of years the position of chief justice of the court 
of appeals (supreme court) of that province of Bavaria. Born in 
the initial year of the French revolution and educated under the 
influence of that remarkable period, the father was a prominent 
Liberal in the most liberal province of Germany, and, chafing 
under the reactionary tendencies and measures that had become 
especially rampant after the futile attempt to overthrow them, made 
by some of the hot-headed youth at Frankfort-on-the-Main in 
1835, he conceived the purpose of transplanting his large family to 
the United States, where he hoped to find the “ideal republic ” 
realized. Despite brilliant offers of advancement from the govern- 
ment, he carried out this purpose in the autumn of 1835, accom- 
panied by numerous testimonials of regret and esteem from his 
constituents, and carrying a letter from General Lafayette com- 
mending him to the good offices of the American people. 

At that time the subject of this sketch had nearly completed his 
tenth year and had gone through the third grade of the gymnasium 
with so much credit that at the closing of the school course preced- 
ing his departure he carried off all the prizes—three in number— 
which were bestowed upon him by the noted educator, Thiersch, 
according to custom, amid sound of trumpets. 

On the voyage from his home at Zweibrticken to the port of 
Havre, which was made by the only mode of conveyance then 
known; viz., by wagons, Julius, as the oldest brother among nine 
children, was first called upon to exercise those practical qualities 
that served him so well in after life. Landing at New Orleans on 
Christmas day, after a long passage of 62 days, the family pro- 
ceeded up the Mississippi, which was running with heavy ice, to 
St. Louis, and thence to Belleville, Illinois, where the father pur- 
chased a farm already well developed, which remained the family 
residence for many years. 


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NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 


Schools at that time were few and primitive in that region ; hence 
Julius, together with his brothers and sisters, received instruction 
from the father, the older ones also teaching the younger; all, how- 
ever, with many interruptions from participation in the work of 
farm and household, inevitable in pioneer life. Of this Julius 
naturally had his full share, but he varied the routine by devoting 
himself successively to the study of music, of chemistry and other 
branches of natural science, while pursuing with his father, by 
preference, that of ancient and modern languages and mathematics. 
In the latter he soon outstripped his teacher, and thereafter con- 
tinued it into the higher branches without, outside help, until, in 
1843, at the age of 18 years, he went to Philadelphia (where a 
married sister, Mrs. Sharon Tyndale,* then resided) with a view to 
the study of engineering and practical employment. 

At Philadelphia he soon formed the acquaintance of several 
prominent families, among them those of Judges Patterson and 
Kane. At the house of the latter he was first introduced to Pro- 
fessor Bache, who had not long before succeeded Hassler in the 
superintendency of the United States Coast Survey and was a 
friend of Hilgard’s maternal uncle, August Ritter von Pauli, of 
Munich, a distinguished engineer. 

Another outcome of this connection was a lifelong friendship 
with Elisha Kent Kane, one of the sons of the family, whose sub- 
sequent explorations in the Arctic regions enlisted his hearty 
sympathy and support. 

His first practical employment was in the preliminary surveys of 
the Bear Mountain railroad, then a new enterprise, but his mental 
activity in a higher sphere soon manifested itself in a communica- 
tion to Mr. Bache, made in January, 1844, in which he called at- 
tention to errors in the formulas used in the Coast Survey in the 
computation of geographical positions, and gave his own develop- 
ment of correct formulas. In reply Mr. Bache wrote to thé young 
‘man of nineteen: “ You have overridden two of our most experi- 
enced computers and have shown that they are seriously in error.” 
The incident was soon followed up by Bache with an offer of 
subordinate position in the Coast Survey, in accepting which young 
Hilgard remarked that he would rather “ do high work at low pay 
than low work at high pay.” He entered at once upon the work 


* Sharon Tyndale was later on secretary of the State of Illinois. 


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JULIUS ERASMUS HILGARD. 


assigned him in the computing division, but his official appointment 
bears the date of December 28, 1846. In the vear 1845-’46, how- 
ever, we already find him engaged in the secondary triangulation of 
the Chesapeake, below Kent island, the illness of the chief of the 
party, Captain (since General, C. S. A.) Joseph E. Johnston, left 
Hilgard in charge of the work. Concerning this first trial of his 
strength the superintendent’s report of that year says: ‘‘ The 
measurement of the angles was made by Mr. J. E. Hilgard, whose 
zeal and the ability with which he has discharged these duties deserve 
notice here, as they have received it in the reports of the chief of 
his party.” 

Among the field-work of the following year was the measurement 
of the Dauphin island base, made by Superintendent Bache, as- 
sisted by Hilgard. The latter then executed the secondary trian- 
gulation from Dauphin island to Vermillion bay, amid great 
difficulties arising from want of suitable means of transportation, 
and continuing the work late in the season ‘“ under conditions of 
considerable hardship that might have excused him from keeping 
the field.” 

The succeeding year (1847-48) he extended the secondary trian- 
gulation of Mississippi sound westward to Lake Borgne, and 
made observations for latitude and longitude at Dollar point, Gal- 
veston bay, including chronometer difference with Pascagoula sta- 
tion. In conjunction with Messrs. Fauntleroy and Davidson, he 
commenced the measurement of base and main triangulation of 
Galveston bay. 

During all this time, when not in the field he was engaged in 
computations and investigations at the office, largely under the im- 
mediate direction of the superintendent. 

In August, 1848, he was married at Washington to Miss Katherine 
Clements, of that city. 

During 1848-’49 he was chiefly occupied in astronomical, mag- 
netic, and latitude observations on the Florida Keys, as well as 
measurements of a preliminary base and triangulation near Key 
West and Bahia Monda, and from Key Biscayne towards Carysfoot 
reef. Again his work was carried on far into the winter season 
under adverse conditions, and in December and January, 1849-50, 
we find him engaged in geodetic and magnetic observations at and 
off Cape Florida. After some summer field-work on the coast of 
New England, he returned in September to take charge of the com- 


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NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 


puting department of the Coast Survey office, in which he continued 
through the years 1851-’52-’53. ~The efficient condition of that de- 
partment during that time is specially referred to by the assistants 
in charge of the office, Captain Benham and Major Stevens, the 
latter saying: “ It affords me unusual gratification to acknowledge 
the services of Mr. Hilgard, in charge of the computing depart- 
ment, and to commend the zeal, promptitude, and accuracy of every 
member of that department.” 

After 1853, while still continuing to have the supervision of the 
computing department, he was frequently detailed for work of 
special importance or difficulty, such as the measurement of bases, 
the testing and discussion of the errors of instruments, ete. On the 
31st of March, 1854, while engaged in work on the Dauphin island 
base, the schooner Phoenix, with the entire party on board, was cap- 
sized in a squall and sunk to the topmast, on which the party took 
refuge, afterward escaping in a boat at considerable peril of their 
lives. Among his work of this year was the perfecting of a reflect- 
ing signal vane revolved by the wind, very simple and effective, and 
extensively used since. 

In 1855, while still continuing occasional field-work, he was put 
in charge of the publication of the records and results of the 
Coast Survey, in order to insure a steady progress in publication. 
This, together with miscellaneous field and scientific work, includ- 
ing a series of very elaborate experiments on the comparison of the 
standard bar of the base apparatus with the standard meter, occu- 
pied his time very closely up to the middle of the year 1860, when 
the necessary attention to his material interests led him to dissolve 
his official connection with the Coast Survey for a time, in order to 
engage in a prominent business enterprise at Paterson, New Jersey. 

He found himself, however, unable to relinquish his interest in 
the affairs of his “first love,” the Coast Survey, and when, at the 
outbreak of the civil war, Superintendent Bache appealed to him 
to return and lend his aid in supporting the Survey, when its very 
existence was threatened as a measure of ill-understood economy, 
he promptly dissolved his lucrative business connection and _ re- 
paired to Washington, where he brought strong arguments to bear 
upon Schuyler Colfax and Roscoe Conkling (eminent as leaders in 
the dominant party), showing how important such an organization 
as the Coast Survey must be to the country in time of war. At first, 
Conkling’s close and critical examination of his argument led Hil- 


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JULIUS ERASMUS HILGARD. 


gard to believe him actuated by a spirit hostile to the Survey ; but 
he was greatly relieved to find, soon afterward, that he had con- 
verted both men into earnest and active supporters of the work. 
Subsequently he took an active part in organizing the National 
Academy of Sciences, of which he became a charter member; he 
also contributed largely to the investigations made by that body 
for the Government. 

In 1862 he assumed charge of the Coast Survey office, a position 
which during the war involved heavy responsibilities, which were 
soon aggravated by the beginning of the mental disease that in- 
capacitated Mr. Bache for performance of the duties of Superin- 
tendent, and terminated in his death. Gradually Hilgard found 
himself forced to assume, one after another, the duties of Superin- 
tendent, until in the autumn of 1864 the whole devolved upon him, 
in addition to his duties as assistant in charge of the office. In this 
onerous and responsible position he remained, under heavy strain, 
until, in February, 1867, the appointment of Benjamin Peirce as 
Superintendent terminated the interregnum. All these extra serv- 
ices were rendered by him without compensation. 

Of the political causes which brought about Hilgard’s being 
passed over in the appointment of a successor to Bache it would 
be profitless to speak here. As the one who had carried the burden 
of the work during the most critical period, and had not only 
brought it through safely, but with increased reputation and appre- 
ciation for efficiency and usefulness, his claims were too obvious to 
be overlooked or fairly contested. As to his action under the 
slight, it is pertinent to introduce the following testimony of Super- 
intendent Peirce, a competent witness, who cannot be suspected of 
_ partiality : 

“ During the illness of my lamented predecessor the administra- 
tion of the Survey fell upon the shoulders of the assistant in charge, 
Mr. J. E. Hilgard. The distinguished ability with which this 
difficult service was discharged was manifest to all. He has ex- 
tended to me the benefit of this experience liberally and loyally. 
While I willingly acknowledge myself under deep and lasting obli- 
gations to him for the aid thus rendered me, I can also testify that 
in all respects he has been equally true to my predecessor, the great- 
ness of whose reputation has not been diminished in his keeping.” 

That, with such a record and with such testimony in his favor, 
his claims should have been passed over a second time in the appoint- 


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ment of the successor of Peirce, on the resignation of the latter, 
was not unexpected, in view of the continuation in power of the 
same dominant influences; that the event should have passed with- 
out exciting some painful reflections with him and others cognizant 
of the facts would have been unnatural. It was partly, doubtless, 
under the influence of a feeling that reparation was due that 
Hilgard was elected to the presidency of the American Association 
for the Advancement of Science for the year 1875. 

He, however, continued in charge of the Coast Survey office and 
in the performance of a great variety of scientific work until his 
appointment to the superintendency in 1881. The duty of con- 
ducting the work of the office of Weights and Measures also 
devolved upon him as assistant superintendent during that time, 
and he was essentially active in shaping the legislation concerning 
the legalization of the metric system in the United States. The 
metric standards for the States were prepared under his super- 
vision. 

In April, 1872, he departed for Europe in charge of operations 
for the telegraphic determination of transatlantic longitude, spe- 
cially between the observatories of Greenwich and Paris on the one 
hand, and those of Harvard and Washington on the other. The: 
successful accomplishment of this long-pending task by himself as 
an American was a source of much gratification to him. 

He returned to his duties at the Coast Survey office in November, 
1872, and in the course of that year made a special determination 
of the length of the standard bar used in the measurement of the 
primary base line near Atlanta, Ga. The following year he con- 
tinued the same duties until September, 1874, when he departed for 
Europe a second time, under an appointment as a delegate to repre- 
sent the Government at the International Conference for the con- 
struction of a new standard meter, which had been called at Paris. 
The report of the Superintendent says on this subject: 

“To the watchful care of Professor Hilgard for the interest of 
the public service and his intimate relations with leading scientific 
men at home and abroad is mainly due the present standing of the 
office. As a member of the International Committee on Weights 
and Measures, to which body he has been accredited by the Presi- 
dent of the United States, Mr. Hilgard, as vice-president of the 
commission, will take passage for Europe before the close of the 
present month to attend a meeting of the body at Paris.” 


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JULIUS ERASMUS HILGARD. 


He participated actively in its deliberations with such ability that 
when it had been determined to establish an International Bureau 
of Weights and Measures at Paris, the directorship of the new insti- 
tution was offered to him, but was declined, to the surprise and re- 
gret of many of his friends who were familiar with the aspect of 
affairs at Washington, and who would have desired for him the otvwm 
cum dignitate of such a position. 

In a subsequent report, the Superintendent of the Coast Survey 
says, regarding this offer: ‘The invitation tendered to Assistant 
Hilgard to accept the directorship of the bureau marks the sense 
held in that eminently scientific body of this special fitness for 
organizing and conducting an institution so exacting in its scientific 
demands and so novel in political inception. While declining 
the proffered honor, he will nevertheless continue his codperation 
as a member of the International Committee on Weights and 
Measures.” 

Subsequently a beautiful Sévres china vase was presented to him 
on behalf of the French Government by President Thiers, in recog- 
nition of his services in connection with the International Commis- 
sion, a similar one being presented to Professor Joseph Henry. 

In the report of 1874-75, the Superintendent remarks in respect 
to Hilgard’s relations to the Survey: “To his long experience, 
eminent ability, and thorough comprehension of the requirements 
of the work, is due the effective codperation of the office work with 
that in the field.” 

In the report of the following year we find a paper from his pen, 
on a chart of the magnetic declination of the United States. 

In 1875 he wrote a paper for the American Association for the 
Advancement of Science “ On the Measurement of a Base Line for 
‘the Primary Triangulation of the United States Coast Survey near 
Atlanta, Georgia ;” another for the Philosophical Society of Wash- 
ington on “ The Relation of the Legal Standards of Measure of the 
United States to those of Great Britain and France.” In August, 
1876, he also delivered an address as retiring president of the 
American Association for the Advancement of Science. 

During the following year, while continuing in charge of the 
office, he was appointed Inspector of Standard Weights and Measures, 
sets of which had been ordered to be distributed to the several 
states. He also made a comparison of the American and English 
standard yards, a matter of great importance and interest. He 


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NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 


likewise described an optical densimeter for sea water,* and made 
important instrumental comparisons. The report of the Superin- 
tendent for 1876-77 says: ; 

“In the summer of 1876, but without remitting in executive 
duties pertaining to the Coast Survey office, Mr. Hilgard acted as 
one of the judges on scientific and mechanical apparatus at the 
Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia. His intimate knowledge 
respecting instruments of precision associated him, as a leading 
member of the board of judges, with some of the ablest scientists of 
America and Europe. 

‘Subsequently, on invitation, he delivered a course of 20 lectures’ 
for the Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore, on the subject of 
‘Extended Territorial Surveying,’ thus contributing the benefit of 
his long experience to the training of young men for a branch of 
work which is one of the great needs of the country—an accurate 
mapping of its entire surface.” 

In June, 1878, he was detailed from his office-work for important 
duties requiring the presence of a representative of the Coast 
Survey in Europe. He assisted in organizing an International 
Committee on Weights and Measures; made at London a compari- 
son of the Coast Survey standard yard with the British Imperial 
standard, and also attended the annual session of the International 
Geodetic Association at Hamburg. 

On his return from Europe, in November, 1878, he resumed 
charge of the office, directing many scientific investigations and, 
among others, selecting points for magnetic observations in the 
United States from and in addition to those at which observations 
had for a number of years been made at the charge of the “ Bache 
fund” under his direction. He made records and reports of these 
observations to the National Academy of Sciences in 1881. 

In December of that year, on the death of Superintendent Patter- 
son, he was himself appointed to the office and continued in the 
same until, in July, 1885, he was obliged to resign. Among the 
special work done by him during that period was the construction 
of a relief model of the basin of the Gulf of Mexico (for which he 
suggested the name of the “ Bay of North America”), and the 
publication of a memoir on the same, published in the American 
Journal of Science. 


*For this instrument a gold medal was subsequently awarded to him at 
the London International Fisheries Exposition, 1883. 


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JULIUS ERASMUS HILGARD. 


It is certain that at the time of his appointment to the super-" 
intendency his physical and mental strength had already become 
seriously impaired by the inroads of the insidious disease (Bright’s ) 
which ultimately, after several years of often intense suffering, 
ended in his death. That to some extent he was conscious of his 
enfeebled condition is evidenced by his remark when receiving the 
notice of his appointment, that “it came too late.’ Years before 
his life had been saddened by the loss of three young children ; it 
was now darkened by the death of the last remaining son, Frederic, 
who, though always delicate, had lived to manhood and appeared 
to be entering upon a successful career as civil engineer. This © 
blow, coming at a time when even in his letters he complained 
of increasing inability to do the accustomed amount of work, gave 
a grave downward impulse to his already failing strength. ‘That 
he did not at that time find any one to lean upon as Bache had 
leaned upon him under similar circumstances was a misfortune 
which allowed matters to progress until a political change found 
in his case a welcome opportunity for the exhibition of the re- 
former’s zeal. In respect to-his physical and consequent mental 
condition at the time when he appeared before the Presidential 
commission on the conduct of the Coast Survey, it may suffice 
to say that the physician who examined him immediately after 
his resignation declared that had he been aware of the facts he 
“would, unsolicited and from a sense of justice, have gone before 
that body and testified that Hilgard could not be held responsible 
for his acts.”” This statement, amply corroborated by the severe 
illness immediately following, should dispose of the unjust censure 
visited upon him at the time, whether by those ignorant or by. 
others forgetful of the devotion, singleness of purpose, and high 
ability which had uniformly marked his previous career. While 
there could be no question of the necessity for a change, the dif_i- 
culty long experienced by the administration in finding a successor 
among his peers in science stands in evidence of the feeling excited 
in them by the harshness of the treatment bestowed upon him. 

In his personal and social relations, Hilgard was early noted for 
his geniality, an intense appreciation of the beautiful in art and 
literature, and a thorough enjoyment of the humorous, however 
grave might be the situation that gave rise to it. He remained 
through life very fond of the ancient classics. A small pocket edition 
volume of Horace’s odes long accompanied him on his travels, and he 


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NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 


was fond of quoting for his own and others’ benefit on critical occa- 
sons the “‘ A4quam memento rebus in-arduis servare mentem,” a prin- 


ciple he honored by close observance so long as he remained of sound 
mind. Perhaps none of his personal traits was more pronounced 


than his generosity toward those in need, whether of substantial 
aid (which was frequently given beyond his financial ability) or of 
advice and moral support. ‘To deserving young men especially he 
liked to extend a helping hand, and tired not of doing so, even 
though too often illy rewarded for his efforts. He often said that 
the older men ought to see to it that the right kind of successors 
were ready to fill their places when they left the stage. The loyal 
friendship he bore toward others he trusted would be reciprocally ex- 
tended, and he seemingly preferred the disappointment thus fre- 
quently incurred to a relinquishment of his faith in human nature 
at large. That the life of a mind so constituted should be largely 
checkered with disappointment was inevitable; but to such lives 
the unswervingly faithful performance of duty, the singleness of 
high purpose, and the accomplishment of the same, so far as circum- 
stances permit, carry their own reward. 

He died at his residence in Washington, after a lingering and 
painful illness, on May 9, 1890. 


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